Exploring Impediments to the Proliferation of Commercial Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Use in the National Airspace System (NAS) of the United States

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UASs), best known as Drones, are expanding in their use, finding new commercial applications and honing their abilities in existing applications. The interviews analyzed here are designed to understand why UAS use has not reached its full commercial potential in the United States.

The UAS industry is experiencing a rapid expansion, doubling every year since 2013, as adopters of this disruptive technology find new ways to benefit from these aerial platforms (Spencer, 2018). Of particular interest is the use of small to medium sized UASs, with a cost to the user of less than $2,000 that are the catalyst for this growth. Despite this rapid growth, UAS operators claim an inability to use these systems to their full potential due to regulatory obstacles.

A collection of industry experts was interviewed to discuss the UAS industry and to explore these perceived obstacles that may be hindering an increased use of these systems across the United States. Represented in the body of 12 interviewees were UAS operators, academic experts, UAS reporters, and legal and regulatory professionals from across the country with on average at least five years of experience in UASs, and at least 10 years in aviation to provide a breadth of experience and array of viewpoints.